Apparatus for making brushes



J. A. STARR APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES Nov. 27, 19 51 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 7, 1948 INVENTOR. John /-Z 310/7 Nov. 27, 1951 J. A. STARR 5,

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES Filed Oct. 7, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. J0/7/7 6% 670/7" 8 7 1951 J. A. STARR APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 7, 1948 viral/dill krill/47 4w r M R W My .4 m

NOV. 27, 1951 STARR 2,576,545

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES Filed Oct.- 7, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 may Nov. 27, 1951 J. A. STARR APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 7, 1948 INVENTOR.

J07? A? Sta/v" a I I Nov. 27, 1951 J. A. STARR 2,576,545

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES LMJM 1951 J. A. STARR APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. '7, 1948 Nov. 27, 1951 J STARR 2,576,545

APPARATUS F OR MAKING BRUSHES Patented Nov. 27, 1951 APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES John A. Starr, Riverdale, N. Y., assignor to M. W.

Jenkins Sons, Inc., Cedar Grove, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application October 7, 1948, Serial No. 53,339

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of making brushes having tufted plastic bristles. The bristles may be made from any suitable plastic which is solid and hard at temperatures under 250 F., but which will soften and liquify when sufficient heat is applied thereto and Will again harden and solidify when cooled. Experience has shown that brushes having bristles made from nylon filaments are very serviceable and are particularly adapted for certain uses. More specifically, this invention relates to a machine which automatically produces bristle tufts and then inserts the tufts into spaced holes through a relatively thin long narrow strip of uncured rubber. Each tuft consists of a plurality of bristles which have their butt ends all fused together into a thin narrow sheet integral with the bristles. After the tufts have been applied to the rubber strip, the strip is helically wound onto a suitable mandrel or core with the adjacent edges of the strip in contact with each other, and then the rubber is cured into a hard solid unit on the mandrel or core.

In making bristle tufts with my improved machine I first combine a plurality of long plastic filaments into a rope, one end of which is inserted into the feeding mechanism of the machine. The machine comprises generally a rope feedingmechanism, a turret having four holders thereon and four stations past which the holders are successively advanced .by the turret with an intermittent movement. The machine also includes means for punching and advancing a long strip of uncured rubber in timed relation with the operation of the rest of the machine. At the first station a, predetermined length of the filament rope is inserted into each holder and cut off as the holders are successively brought into register with the rope feeding mechanism. The holders are then advanced to the second station with the severed sections of the rope therein. Here the rope section is forced downwardly in the holder until about a; of an inch thereof projects from the bottom thereof, after which the holder is moved downwardly until the projecting end of the rope is brought into engagement with a heating element which softens and fuses the ends of all the filaments together. The holder is then advanced to the third station, during which time the fused ends of the after which the holder is moved downwardly to immerse the projecting end of the rope section in rubber cement. The holder is then advanced to the fourth station to which the rubber strip, after being punched, is also advanced in timed relation to the movement of the holders. Here the holder is moved downwardly to insert the projecting cemented end of the tuft into a registering hole in the rubber strip. As the holder is retracted, the tuft which is held by the rubber strip is completely withdrawn from the holder. The foregoingoperations are successively repeated with each holder as the holders are respectively intermittently moved to successive stations by the turret.

The principal object of the invention is t provide a machine which will automatically produce plastic bristle tufts and then insert them in successive holes in a long, thin, narrow strip of uncured rubber.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. machine of this character which can be quickly and easily adjusted to produce bristle tufts of any desired size within the limits of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which is of simple construction and very eificient in operation, and which will produce plastic bristle tufts which are superior to tufts produced by other known machines, and will materially reduce the manufacturing cost of brushes.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specifications and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a machine constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and showing in plan the driving mechanism by which the various elements of the machine are operated in timed relation to each other;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4';

- vFig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

- Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 1-! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a detail vievp of one of the operating c .Y

Fig. 9 is a detail view of another operating cam;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section taken on the line Ill-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line I Il I of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical section through the rotating punch by which the holes are out through the rubber strip;

Figs. l3, l4 and 15 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the machine; and

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing several tufts secured in the rubber strip.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral l indicates a, table top which is supported by suitable legs (not shown). A gear case 2 is secured to the upper side ofth'e table top I by bolts 3. Secured to the top of the gear case 2 by bolts 4 atone side thereof is an u ard e t g bracket wh ehh upper and lower bosses 6 and 1, respectively, formed integral therewith. I An arm 8 is secured to the top of the bracket '5 about the upper end of the boss 6 and extends outwardly therefrom. The free end'of the arm has avertical bore 9 therethrough in which the upper end of a non-rotatable reciprocal rod I0 is slidab ly mounted. The lower end of the rod Hi is s lidably mounted in and extends through a'cylindrical sleeve 1 l which isrotatably mounted-in bearings 12 and I3 which are suit8bl ecuredto thetop and bottom, respectively, of the table tcp I in axial alinement with-the bore 9. The rod I ii is intermittently reciprocated, with a dwell at the end of its movement in each direction, by an oscillatory arm I4 which is .pivotally connected at 5 to a bracket l6 which is secured to and extends downwardly from the underside of the tabletop l; and the sleeve II is intermittently rotated, in timed relation, to the reciprocation of the rod It, by a ratchet and pawl mechanism generally indicated by the numeral [1. v i l I The bosses 5 and 1 have axially alined vertical bores i8 and 19, respectively, therethrough in which is mounted the rope feeding mechanism 4 generally indicated by the numeral 20. A cutting mechanism generally indicated by the numeal .2 is m un e on the. s a c t d is operative to successivelycut seetions of predetermined length from the rope of filaments as the rope is intermittently fed downwardly in predetermined lengths by the rope feeding mechanism. The strip feedin and punching mechanism is generally indicated by the numeral 22. The rod iiLthe sleeve Il, th e rope feeding mechanism 20, the cuttingmechanism 2i, and the strip feeding and punching mechanism 22 are all operated in timed relation to each other from a shaft 23 which is rotatably supported by brackets 24 and "25 which areisecu'reatoand extend downwardly from the underside of the table top I. The shaft 23 is constantly rotated during operation by any suitable source of power (not shown) through a drive chain 26 anda sprocket 21 which is rigid 13'; secured to the shaft 23. "The arm H, through which the rod I0 is reciprocated, is oscillated by a cam 28 which is pinned or otherwise secured to the shaft 23; and the ratchet and "pawl mechanism 11, through which the sleeve II is intermittently rotated through 90 at a time; is driven by acam;2-9 secured to the shaft '23 adjacent the cam 28. The rope feeding mechanism 2-0 is operated by the rod lll through an arm 30, which is rigidly secured at one end thereof, to apart of the rope feeding mechanism, as indicated at 3|.

w nt

Near the other end of the arm 30 is an aperture 32 through which the rod l0 extends, and in which the rod ID is freely slidable. The strip feeding and punching mechanism is operated from a short shaft 33 which is rotatably supported by brackets 34 secured to and extending downwardly from the underside of the table top I, and the shaft -33 is constantly rotated by the shaft 23 through a, drive chain 35 and sprockets 3B and 31 secured to the shafts 23 and 33, respectively. The cutting mechanism 2! is supported from a short vertical shaft 38 which is rotatably supported in a bearing 39 in the gear case 2. The

ably supported by a bracket 43 secured to and extending upwardly from the table top I; and the shaft 42 is constantly driven from the shaft 23 through a drive chain 44 and sprockets 45 and 46 secured to the shafts 23 and 42, respectively. Secured to the lower end of the arm H3 by a pin 48 is an extension generally indicated by the numeral 2:9. This extension comprises a base 5B and "a pair of spaced arms 5i extending downwardly therefrom, The base 59 has a vertical cylindrical recess EZthereininto which the lower end of the rod l0 fits. 'A roller 53 is rotatably supported between the arms 5| near the lower end thereof by a pin '54 which is secured to and extends between the arms 51. 'The free'end of the arm 1'4 is reduced as'indicated at'55 and extends between the arms 5| above the roller 53 and under the base 50. Then, as the arm 14 is oscillated between the position shown by 'full lines and the position shown by dot and dash lines shown'in Fig. 5, the rod It will be reciprocated between the position shown by full lines and the position'shown by dot and dash lines. The arm [4 is moved from the full line position to the dot and dash line position in Fig. 5 by the cam 28 e'ngagin'g a 'rollerfifi'which is rotatablymou'nted upon a'stud 5'! secured to the arm l4; and is moved back from the dot and dash line position to'the fulllin'e position by the cam 28 engaging a roller 58 which is rotatably mounted upona 'sjtud'59 carried by an arm 60 which is secured, as shown, to the arm 14. By reference to Figs. 5 and Sit will be seen that the shape of the 'cam28 is such that it will-cause a dwell in the movement of the arm i4 and consequently the rod I'D, atboth the upper and iower limits of their movement.

The ratchet and pa'w'l'me'chanism i1, shown in detail in Figs. 4 5 and 6, which intermittently rotates the sleeve 'H comprises a 'pawl'fil and a four-toothed ratchet 62. The ratchet 62 is 'sec'ured'tothe sleeve il directly below the bearing 13' by a set screw '53, and the awl BI is pivotally secured at 64 'to the outer end of "an arm 65 "which is rotatabl mounted upon the sleeve ll between the ratchet 62 and a collar tit-which "is secured to the lowere'nd of the sleeve H by a set screw 67. The pawlfil is re iliently "held in engagement with the ratchet '6} by any suitable means. one end of a link 68' is pivotal'ly connected to. the arm 65 as indicated at 69, and the other end thereof is pivota'n connectedto a slide Hi, as indicated at derside 'of"the table'tdpi, and the slide lii has an elongated slotll 'the'rethro'ugh through which the shaft 23 extends. This arrangement accurately guides the slide 18 as it is reciprocated by the cam 29. From this it will be seen that, as the slide 18 is reciprocated, the arm 85 will be oscillated about the sleeve II as a pivot, and that through the pawl 8| and the ratchet 62, the sleeve II will be intermittently rotated. The arrangement and proportions of the parts are such that for each movement of the slide 18 in one direction, the'sleeve II will be indexed through 98, and during the movement of the slide 18 in the opposite direction, the sleeve II will remain stationary.- The mechanism for reciprocating the rod I8 and the indexing mechanism for the sleeve I I are so timed with respect to each other that the rod I8 will be reciprocated during each dwell of the sleeve II.

A turret disc 88, having flanged collars 8| and 82, secured to opposite sides thereof is rigidly secured to the sleeve II by'a set screw 83, with the collar 8| seating on the upper end of the bearing I2. The set screw 83, by which the ratchet 62 is secured to the sleeve II, and the set screw 83, by which the disc 88 is secured to the sleeve II, cooperate with each other to hold the sleeve I I against vertical movement. The disc 88 has four holders 84 mounted therein. These holders are all equidistant from the axis of the sleeve I I and are spaced 90 from each other.

Each holder 84 comprises a bushing 85, a. reciprocal sleeve 86 and a spring 81. The bushings 85 are secured in apertures in the disc 88 and the sleeves 88 are slidably mounted in the bushings 85. Each sleeve 86 has an enlarged conical head 88 formed on the lower end thereof and a collar 89 removably secured to the upper end thereof. The springs 81, which are disposed about the sleeves 86 between the collars 89 and flanges 98 on the bushings 85, normally hold the sleeves 86 in their uppermost position, but will allow them to be moved downwardly as will be hereinafter described. 3

A plate 9| having a flanged collar 92 secured thereto is slidably mounted upon the upper end of the sleeve II. The plate 9| is adapted to be moved up and down upon the sleeve II, but is held against rotation by a rod 93 which is rigidly secured in a bore 94 in the boss 1 and extends through a bushing 95 carried by the plate 9|. A spring 96, which is disposed about the sleeve II between the disc 88 and plate 9| normally holds the plate 9| in its uppermost position which is determined by the bushing 95 engaging the boss 1. The plate 9| has three bushings 91, 98 and 99 mounted thereon which extend through apertures I88 in the disc 9|. The bushings 91, 98 and 99 are all equidistant from the axis of the sleeve II with the bushing 91 disposed 90 to one side of the bushing 98 and the bushing 99 disposed 90 to the other side of the bushing 99. The axis of the rope feeding mechanism 28 is disposed midway between the bushings 91 and 99 diametrically pposite the bushing 98, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3.

A plate I8I, having a flanged collar I82 secured thereto, is pinned to the rod I8 between the arms 8 and 38 as indicated at I83. The plate I8I carries three ejector rods I84, I85 and I86 which are adjustably held in apertures I81 in the plate IN by set screws I88. The rods I84, I85 and I88 extend downwardly from the plate I8I and into the bushings 91, 98 and 99. respectively.

' The rope feeding mechanism 28' comprises a piece of steel tubing I I8 which is slidably mounted in the bore I8 in the boss 6. Removably secured in the tubing H8 is a sleeve III of case hardened steel. The sleeve III extends a short distance out of the lower end of the tubing H8 and has the arm 38 secured thereto by the bolt 3|. A thin walled tube II2 of stainless chrome steel is secured in the lower end of the sleeve III and extends downwardly therefrom into the upper end of a bronze bushing II3 which is mounted in the bore I9 in the boss I. The lower end of the tube II2 has a conical taper II4 formed thereon. A tool steel plug II5 having a conical aperture II6 complementary to the taper H4 is secured in the lower end of the bore I9 beneath the bushing II3. As the tubing H8 is reciprocated, as will be hereinafter described, the tapered end II4 of the tube II2 will seat in the conical aperture II6 when the tube is at the lower end of its movement. An arm 1 which is rigidly secured to the upper end of the tubing II8 has a pair of spaced brackets II8 mounted thereon between which is rotatably supported a grooved pulley I I9. A second pulley I28 is rotatably supported between spaced brackets I 2| secured to the bracket 5. The numeral I22 indicates a reel upon which the rope I23 of plastic filaments is wound and from which the rope is withdrawn during operation. The rope of filaments I23 is fed from the reel I22, thence under the pulley I28 and then up over the pulley I I8 and down through the sleeve I II and tube I I2 to the end II4 of the tube II2. Most plastic filaments capable of being used in forming bristle tufts have a very abrasive efiect upon the sleeve III and the tube II2. With the construction shown these parts can be readily replaced after they become worn.

The cutting mechanism 2| comprises a blade I25 having a diagonal beveled cutting edge I26. The blade I25 is removably secured to a reciprocal slide I21, by bolts I28, which is slidably mounted in a slot I29 formed in the top of the gear case 2. The slide I21 has an elongated slot I38 therethrough through which the shaft 38 extends, and it is reciprocated by a cam I3| which is secured to the upper end of the shaft 38 and, as it is rotated, engages rollers I32 rotatably mounted on studs I33 carried by the slide I21. The blade I25 engages the lower end of the plug I I5 and as it is reciprocated, the cutting edge I26 of the blade cooperates with the plug to shear off sections from the rope I23 which have been projected out through the aperture ||8 by the rope feeding mechanism 28.

As previously stated, all of the various mechanisms which have been described in detail are operated in timed relation to each other from the shaft 23 which is constantly rotated during operation. As the rod I8 is moved downwardly by the arm I4 it carries the plate I8I down with it, which in turn moves the ejector rods I84, I and I88 down through the bushings 91, 98 and 99, respectively, as is shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. After the rod I8 has been moved downwardly a short distance, the plate I8I engages the arm 38 after which the plate I8I and arm 38 move downwardly together. As the arm 38 is moved downwardly it in turn pulls the tubing III] and all of the parts carried thereby downwardly until at the lower limit of movement of the rod I8, the conical end II4 of the tube II2 seats in the conical aperture H6 in the plug II5. Upon a predetermined further movement of the rod I8, after the plate I8I engages the arm 38, a

cup-shaped I member 435 rigidlyse'cured Eto the rod I will'engage the top of thecollar SZ-secured to the .plate :BI, after which the plates ill and IIII and the' arm 30 will allmov'e downwardly together. As'theplate BI is moved downwardly about the sleeve II by the cup-shaped memherv I35, the -member I35 will telescope the upper, end-of the sleeve II. downwardly, the lower ends of the bushings 98, 99 ands! will successively engage the upper ends of the sleeves :86 of the holders 84 thereunder and uponiurther movementof theiplat'e SI, the bushings 91, HBand 99 will depress the sleeves 860i the holders 84 in the bushings 85thereof against the pressure 'of the springs '87, which wnlreturnthe sleeves hi5 to theirlmtial position a srth'egpiate e I moves "back to its initial position. the rod it] is moved upwardly by the cam 28 andarm 4, it will "carry the:p1ate ii and the ejector rods NM, 105 and H16 up'with'it' and the spring-9s will return theplate'fil and bushings 8'1, 98 arm es thereon back to'their initial positions. .-A spring :I3i3, which"sur rounds the rod 10 between theplate ill and the arm '30, is provided to return the rope feeding mechanism "to its initial position.

'I he upa'nd down travel of the rod til is always constant and cannot be changed or ad justed. Consequently, in-order to adapt the apparatus for formin'g xdifierent lengths oi :tiiits, means are iprovidediby whichthe' length of the stroke of the rope feeding :mechanism can be varied as the length of the stroke of 'the :rope feeding mechanism determines the amount of rope fed during each :cycle, and this in turmdetermines the length of the tufts. Means are 'alsoprovidedlby whichitherinitial osition of the ejector rods I94, I05 and lfidc'an be chang'edin accordance withany change in the strole of the rope 'feeding'mechanism. In'o'rder toiadju'st the stroke of the feeding mechanism 29, it is'onl'y necessary to adjust the initial .iposition thereof, as the rope feeding mechanism will not start to move downwardly 'until theplate' I U I engages the arm 36. adjustment is accomplished by means of a s'top I31which is-adiustably secured to' the upper end of the 'rod'93nby'a setscrew 38. ln order to change the'ini-tial position of the ejector ro'ds I04, I 05 f and 1 0-6 it is ionly neces sary to 1008611 the set 5SUI6WS H38 and move the rods to the desired position, after which the screws 198 are again tightened. l.

As previously stated, the cam id-is so shaped as to produce :a dw'ellin "themovementtof the rod ID at both the upper andilower limitsofdts movement; whieh in turn will produeeilike'dwells in the various mechanisms operated bythe rod Ill. z-isthe rope-feedingmechanism 'moves dowm wardly, it projects a redetermined length ol? rope out through the aperture "I I6 and into a holder '84 therebelow. Then; dh'ri'ng'fthe dwell at the lower limit of -its movement, the cutting blade I is moved towards the projecting secnon-of ro e unt'il the cutting edge I Zifengages therope. 'The blade I25' then dwells holdingithe rope stationary, while the rope feeding mechanism returns to its initial-position, after "which theblade I25 is moved 'on 'farther'to shear the projecting section I 40 from the rope, leaving it in the holder "3'4 with the 'end'MI thereof projee ting a short distance. above "the holder as shownin Figs. 10 and 15.

As the rope feeding meehanism'dll returns: to its initial position,.ta new section of-rope is withdrawn from thev reel I22.-an'd the next'se'ce the plate BI is :moved tion -I40 is =1eftextending from the endof the tube 142 into-the bushing H3 in readinessto be projectedout throughthe-aperture H6 and into the next :holder 84.

All of the above described operations occur during the dwell "in the movement of the turret disc 80. After the rod II] has been returned to its uppermost position and all of theimechanisms operated thereby have returned to their initial positions, the ratchet and .pawl mechanism I1 indexes the-turret-disc-W through, afterwhich it dwells while the rod Ill and various mechanisms'connectedthereto are again operated. q

As the turret disc is indexed around it advances the holders 84 successivelypast four-stations A, B, C and D at -which stations the holders dwell as the various mechanisms described are operated. At stationA, a section Mi of predetermined length is projected from the rope feed ingmechanism and into a holder 84 *therebelow, after which the section is sheared'off leaving the upper end MI thereof extending a short distance above the holder, as has been described. As each-holder 84 moves from station A 'to'station B, theiprojectingend MI of the rope section I40'is engaged by a spring arm I42 which depresses the section I40 within the holder :8 until'the upper :end thereof is flush with the top of the holder. Thespring arm M2 is secured to one side of the boss 1 as indicated at I 13 inhigs.

3 and 10.

At station '13, the "ejector rod I94 first forces the section I48 downwardly-in the sleeve lit er the holder -84 until the lower :end of 'the section extends out of the sleeve a veryshort distance, abouts; to of an inch. The :sleeve 86 isthen moved downwardly from the position shown :in Fig. 14 to the position :shown in Fig. 15 by the bushing-97 until the projectingend of the section I49 -is brought intoengagement with a suitable heating element It? as indicated at me. The heating element I45 heats and softens'the'ends of the filaments causing them to all fuse together. From station :13, the holders 84 are advanced to stationC. While-the holders areadvancingfroni stationB to station C, the'fusedend of the'section of filaments cools and hardens into athin solid'base integral with the filaments and slightly greater-indiameter than the diameter of the section I IEL-thusforming a head around the lower endzof :thesection. v

- :At station C, theejector rod I05 forces the lower ends of the sections I40 from thesleeves 86 still further, as indicated at I41, and thenthe bushing 98 depresses the sleeve =86 from theposition shown in -Fig. 14 to the position shownin Fig. 15 until the projecting end of the section is immersed in rubber cement I48'in a pan I49, to apply a thin film-of cement to the immersed end of the section.

'From station 0, the holders Bears advanced to station D where the cemented ends 141 of the sections I40 are successively inserted in aper ture's I50 in'a relatively narrow endless strip I51 of uncured rubber, which is advanced to station D in timed relation to the -advancement of the holders w{it thereto. T'ihe insertion ofithe'end s l I41 into the apertures 1'50 is accomplished by the downward movement of the sleeves 86 from the position shown in Fig. 14 to the-positionshown in F igQIS. 'The wetcement onthe ends I41 acts as-a lubricant and facilitates the-insertionof the endsinto theapertures I50. The ejector rodlllfi m -y' cts as si sta-pr ve th "529 3 1 141.!

9 being forced back into the sleeve 86 as the end I41 is being forced into the aperture I50.

The operation of the apparatus as just described is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. In Fig. 13 the various mechanisms are shown in their initial positions with the end of the rope I23 flush with the bottom of the plug II ready to be projected out through the aperture II6 into the holder 84 therebelow. In Fig. 14 the various mechanisms are shown in the positions they assume just as the cup-shaped member I35 engages the collar 82 on the plate 9| pre paratory to moving the plate 9| downwardly. In this position, the end section I40 of the rope I23 has been only partially inserted in a holder 84, and the ejector rods I04, I05 and I06 have been moved downwardly until they extend out below the bottoms of the bushings 91, 98 and 99, re-

spectively. In Fig. 15 the various mechanisms are shown at the lower limits of their movement. From the position shown in Fig. 15 the various mechanisms move back to their initial positions as shown in Fig. 13 which completes the cycle of operation.

After the rubber strip I 5| leaves station D with the sections I40 secured in the apertures I50, it passes over a roller I52 which takes cement from the pan I49 and applies it to the bottom of the strip. After leaving the roller I52, the strip I5I passes through a drying chamber 230 where the cement is dried. After leaving the drying chamber the strip I5I, with the sections I40 securely cemented in the apertures I 50, may be immediately wound upon a core or mandrel to form a brush or it may be coiled and stored for future use.

The mechanism 22 for cutting the apertures I50 in the strip I 5I and feeding the strip past station D in timed relation to the operation of the rest of the apparatus will now be described. This mechanism is all operated by the shaft 33 which is constantly rotated during operation by the main shaft 23 through the drive chain 35 and the sprockets 36 and 31 as previously described. The punching mechanism is mounted upon a standard I50 which extends upwardly from a base I6I which is adjustably secured to the top of the table I by clamps I62 and bolts I63. A punch holder I64 is reciprocally and rotatably mounted in alined bearings I65 and I 66 in spaced bosses I61 and I68 integral with the standard I60. A sprocket I69 is slidably keyed upon the punch holder I64 between the bosses I61 and I68 as indicated at I10. The punch holder I64 is constantly rotated at high speed during operation from a vertical shaft I1I by a sprocket I12 secured to the upper endof the shaft I1I, a drive chain I13 and the sprocket I69. The vertical shaft I1I which extends down through the table top I is rotatably supported by a suitable bearin bracket I14 secured to the underside of the table top I. Secured to the lower end of the vertical shaft I1I is a bevel gear I15 which 11195118: with a bevel gear I16 secured. to one end of a horizontal shaft I11, rotatably supported in a suitable bearing bracket I18 secured to and extending down from the underside of the table top I. A pulley I19, which is driven from any suitable source of power by a belt I80, is secured to the other end of the horizontal shaft I11. The shaft III is thus driven by the belt I80 through the pulley I19, shaft I11 and bevel gears I 16 and I15.

Secured to the upper end of the punch holder I64 is a wheel I8I having an annular groove I82 therein. A pair of diametrically opposite pins 10 I83 which are carried by a yoke I84 extend into the groove I82. The yoke I84 is secured to one end of a rocker arm I85 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft I86 between spaced arms I81 integral with the standard I60. Theother end of the rocker arm I85 is pivotally connected at I88 to the upper-end of a-connecting rod I89. The lower'end of the connecting rod I89 is connected to an'adjustable crank I90 secured to one end of the shaft 33.: From this it will be seen that as theshaft 33 rotates, the rocker-arm I65 will be oscillated-on the shaft I86. The'rocker arm as'it is oscillated will impart a reciprocal movement to the punch holder I64-through the yoke I84, pins I83 and ,wheel I8I. I

A cutting punch I9I is'removably secured in-a recess I92 in the lower end 'of the punch holder I64 by'a set screw I93. The punchI9I comprises a thin walled tube I94 of hardened steel the lower end of which has been diagonally cut as indicated at I95. The outer wall 'of the tube is bevelled as indicated at I96 to provide a sharp cutting'edge I91. A plunger I98 is slidably mounted in the lower end of the tube I 94 and the upper end of the tube is closed by an apertured screw plug I99. A rod 200'having an enlarged head 20l is insertedthrough the aperture in the plug I99 and screwed into theupper end of the plunger as indicated at 202. A spring 203' disposed within the tube I94 about the rod 200 between the screw plug I99" and the inner end of the plunger I98 normally urges the plunger I 98 outwardly and thehead 20I limits the outward movement thereof. The plunger I98 is provided to eject thecut plug from the apertures" I 50 in the strip I5I as-the apertures are cut by the downward movement of" the 'rapidly rotating punch holder I 64,' an'd' the punch I 9| carried thereby. i

The strip I5I is intermittently fed past the punch I 9I and station 'D by a pair of intermittently driven rollers-205 "and 206. A pair of spaced grooved guide rails'201 which extend from a point a short distance behind-the rollers 205 and 206 up to the cement applying roller 152, as shown in Fig. 2, guide and confine the uncured rubber strip I5I- and prevent any displacement thereof as it is pushed forwardly by the rollers 205 and 206. It is during the dwell in the movement of the strip I5I that the punch I9I is reciprocated to cut the apertures I50. It is also during this dwell that a section I40 of rope 'filament is inserted into a previously cut aperture. A hardened plug 208 having a bore 209 in alinement with the punch I 9| cooperates with the punch I 9| in cutting the aperture I50.

The roller 205 is secured to the upper end of a shaft 2I0 which is rotatably supported in suitable bearings 2| I and 212 secured to the table top I on opposite sides thereof. The roller 206 is secured to the upper end of. a shaft 2I3 which is rotatably mounted in suitable supports secured to the table top I. The shaft2 I 0 is intermittently rotated in a clockwisedirection (Figs. 3 and 4) by a pawl 2I4 and a ratchet 2I5, which in turn are operated by theshaft 33 through suitable linkage. The shaft 2I3 is rotated in an anticlockwise direction by a gear 2I6 which is secured to the shaft 2H) and meshes with a complementary gear (not shown) secured to the lower end of the shaft 2I3. The gear 2I6 is pinned to the shaft 2I0 directly below the bearing 2I2 and the ratchet 2I5 is secured to the shaft 2I0 directly below the gear 2I6. The pawl 214 ispivotally secured, as indicated at 2I1, to

answers '11 the outer. end of an arm 2l -8 whlch:is:rotatably mounted on the shaftil ll below the ratchet 2!.5.

'The pawl Zlkis resiliently held in engagement with the ratchet byany Suitable means. One

'end of a link 2| 9' is'pi'votally connected to the arm 2=8at 220, and one endaofa link 22-1 is connected to an adjustable crank' mechanism 222 secured: to one end of the shaft/33. The adjustable-crank mechanisms I80: and 222 are identical and of standard well" known construction. Consequently; it is not believed necessary to describe them in detail herein. The links 2'l9and 221 are corrected together by a universal coupling 223. From theforego-ing'it will be apparent that as the shaft 33 rotates the arm 2| 8- will be oscillated which wil l'impart an intermittent rotary movement to t e shaft ZlD through the pawl 2| 4' and ratchet 2li5'; and that the same intermittent movement in the opposite direction willbe imparted" to t e shaft 213 through the gear 2l6 on the shaft 2 l llrand the complementary gear on. the shaft 2 l3.

As previously stated, the strip feeding and punchina mechanism. is. operated: in timed" relation.- tn. the. operation oftl'ierrestv of the apparams. The strip lif is advanced atithe same'time the turret disc 80- is. indexed which: is during the dwell ofthe various other mechanisms. in their initial positions; and" the. punch l'9l is reciprocated to out: the apertures r50 during the reciprocation of: the rod HI. and: the operation of the various mechanismsconnectedthereto;

In Fig-: 16 I. have showmon an. enlarged? scale,

a sectiorr cft e-uncured: rubber strip. l5'l with several. completed tufts. secured in the apertures $5.9. Each tuft 2Z5aconsistsof aplurality of plasti'cbri'stlest 226. which have had their correspondins:v en s vfused" together intov a thin, hard, solid sheet 221 integral with the bristles 226: The sheet-.22! isof slightly. lar er diameter than the diameter of the: tufts within the apertures I511,

thus. forming an annular bead'228 about the base of: the. tuft. This bead; beingsomewhat larger than the apertures: I50; cooperates with the ocment tcsecurelyretain the tufts: 225 in. the; apertures: [51L From the foregoing-it will be apparent" to those skilled in this art that l. have provided a very efi'i'ci'ent' and relatively simple-apparatus for accomplishing the objects of my invention.

It is to be understood that I am not'restrioted to the specific construction shown and" described herein asvarious modifications can be made therein within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of" the character" describedthe combination of areciprocat rope feeding mechanism operative to successively advance'sections of a rope of plastic filaments into a holder, a turrethavin a pluralityof'holders carried thereby, means for indexing said turret in timed relation to the operationgofsaid, rope feeding mechanism to. successively; advance said holders to; said rope feeding mechanism in position to: have'said ropesections inserted therein, a" shearingmechanism operative. to successively cut said sections from said'rope after they have been inserted into said holders, a heating elementto which said holders are advanced from said rope feeding mechanism by said turret, means operative to successively project the lower ends of said sections from said? holders into engagement with sa-idheating element to fuse the'ends of the filamerits together ina solid sheet integral with said filaments, a discharge-station-to which saidholders are successively advanced;v from. said. heating element by said turret? and means; at; said dis.- charge station operative. to successively project said sections from. said holders, and insert. the lower ends thereof into spaced apertures in: a holder strip;

2. In: a device ofthe character described the combination of av reciprocal rope-feeding mechanisnroperative to successively advance sections of a rope of plastic'filaments into. a holder; a turret having a plurality of holderscarriedthere.- by, means for-indexingsaiditur-ret in timed relae tion to theoperation-of' said rope feeding-mechani'smto successively: advance said holders-to said ropeieeding'mechanism in position to have said rope sections inserted therein, a shearingzmechanism operative to successivelyout said sections from said rope after they have been inserted into said holders; a heating element to which said holders are advanced from said rope feed ing: mechanism by said'turret, means operative to successively project the lower ends of said sections fromsai'd" holders into engagement with said heating element to fuse the endsof thefilaments together into a solid -sheet integral with said filaments, a discharge stationtowhich said holders are successively advanced from said heat-- ing element by said turret; means at said discharge: station operative to successively project said sections from said holders andinsert the lower ends thereof into spaced.- apertures in a holder strip, and' means operative to advance said holder StIlDtO said discharge station in timed relation-to the operation- 0f said inserting means.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of a reciprocal rope feeding mechanism operative tosuccessively advance sections ofia rope of plastic filaments into a holderpa turrethaving a plurality of'holders carried thereby, means-forindexing said turret in timed rela tion to the operation of said rope feeding mechanism to successively advance said holders to said rope feeding mechanism in position to have said rope sectionsinserted therein; a shearingmechanis-moperative to successively out said. sectionsfrom said rope after they have been inserted into said holders, a heating element to which said holders are advanced from. said rope feeding mechanism by said turret, means; operative tosuccessively project the lower ends. of said sections'from said holders into engagement with said heating element to fuse: the. ends of the filaments together into a solid sheet integral with said filaments, a container having liquid cement thereinto which said holders are successively. ad.- vancedv from said heating element. by said turret, meansoperative to project the lower ends of'said sections into said liquid cement to apply a thin film of cement thereto, a discharge. station .to which said holders are successively ad'- 7 vanced from said container by said. turret, and

meansat said discharge station. operative,- to successively project. said sections-.- from said hold.- ers and insert the lower endsthereofinto. spaced apertures in a holder strip.

4. In a device of the character described. the combination of a reciprocal; rope feeding-mechanism' operative to successively advance sections of'a rope of plastic filaments into aholder, a turret having a plurality of holders.carriedthereby, means for indexing said turret: in. timed. relation to the'operati'on of'said rope feeding mechanism to successively advance said" holders to said rope feeding mechanism in position to have said rope sectionsv inserted therein; 7 a shearing mechanism 13 operative to successively cut said sections from said rope after they have been inserted into said holders, a heating element to which said holders are advanced from said rope feeding mechanism by said turret, means operative to successively project the lower ends of said sections from said holders into engagement with said heating element to fuse the ends of the filaments together into a solid sheet integral with said filaments, a container having liquid cement therein to which said holders are successively advanced from said heating element by said turret, means operative to project the lower ends of said sections into said liquid cement to apply a thin film of cement thereto, a discharge station to which said holders are successively advanced from said container by said turret, means at said discharge station operative to successively project said sections from said holders and insert the lower ends thereof into spaced apertures in a holder strip, and means operative to out said apertures in said holder strip and to advance said holder strip to said discharge station in timed relation to the operation of said inserting means.

5. In a device of the character described the combination of a base and a frame secured thereto, a rope feeding mechanism supported by said frame and operative to successively advance sections of a rope of plastic filaments into a holder, a sleeve rotatably mounted in suitable bearings, a reciprocal rod extending through said sleeve and slidably mounted therein, a turret having a plurality of holders carried thereby, means including a ratchet and pawl mechanism by which said sleeve is intermittently rotated to index said turret and successively advance said holders to said rope feeding mechanism in position to have said rope sections inserted therein, a shearing mechanism operative to successively out said sections from said rope after said sections have been inserted in said holders, means including a cam and a pivoted arm by which said rod is reciprocated in timed relation to the indexing of said turret with a dwell in its movement at each end thereof, operative connections between said rod and said rope feeding mechanism through which said rope feeding mechanism is operated by the reciprocation of said rod, a heating element to which said holders are successively advanced from said rope feeding mechanism by said turret, means operated by the reciprocation of said rod for successively projecting the lower ends of said sections from said holders into engagement with said heating element to fuse the ends of the filaments together into a solid sheet integral with the filaments, a discharge station to which said holders are advanced from said heating element by said turret, means at said discharge station operated by the reciprocation of said rod for successively projecting said sections from said holders and inserting the lower ends thereof into alined aperturesin a holder strip.

6. In a device of the character described the combination of a base and a frame secured thereto, a rope feeding mechanism supported by said frame and operative to successively advance sections of a rope of plastic filaments into a holder, a sleeve rotatably mounted in suitable bearings, a reciprocal rod extending through said sleeve and slidably mounted therein, a turret having a plurality of holders carried thereby, means including a ratchet and pawl mechanism by which said sleeve is intermittently rotated to index said turret and successively advance said holders to said rope feeding mechanism in position to have said rope sections inserted therein, a shearing mechanism operative to successively out said sections from said rope after said sections have been inserted into said holders, means including a cam and a pivoted arm by which said rod is reciprocated in timed relation to the indexing of said turret with a dwell in its movement at each end thereof, operative connections between said rod and said rope feeding mechanism through which said rope feeding mechanism is operated by the reciprocation of said rod, a heating element to which said holders are successively advanced from said rope feeding mechanism by said turret, means operated by the reciprocation of said rod for successively projecting the lower ends of said sections from said holders into engagement with said heating element to fuse the ends of the filaments together into a solid sheet integral with the filaments, a discharge station to which said holders are advanced from said heating element by said turret, means at said discharge station operated by the reciprocation of said rod for successively projecting said sections from said holders and inserting the lower ends thereof into alined apertures in a holder strip, and means operative to advance said holder strip to said discharge station in timed relation to the indexing of said turret and the operation of said inserting means.

JOHN A. STARR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 866,784 Glorieux Sept. 24, 1907 1,230,518 Robinson June 19, 1917 2,035,709 Laub Mar. 31, 1936 2,341,823 Smith Feb. 15, 1944 2,438,156 Dodge Mar. 23, 1948 2,488,865 Haux Nov. 22, 1949 

